Duke University Hospital Program

Program Identity & Fit

Duke's Neurosurgery Residency is a seven-year academic program at a quaternary referral center that builds a dedicated research year (basic science, clinical research, or master's thesis) directly into training and offers an elective physician-scientist track, positioning research as a core structural pillar rather than an optional add-on. Clinical exposure spans complex vascular, spine, tumor, pediatric, functional, and epilepsy neurosurgery, supported by an extensive faculty-run trial and lab portfolio (DBS, cell therapy for epilepsy, glioblastoma outcomes, spine biomechanics) and named developmental programs including the Surgical Autonomy Program, Neuro-Innovations Program, Feagin Leadership Program, and a Global Health Program. The department explicitly frames its mission as producing "neurosurgical visionaries" and future field leaders, with formal coaching/mentorship and an Academic Day built into the curriculum to cultivate versatility across research, innovation, global health, and education alongside operative skill. The seventh year reserved for CAST-approved fellowship confirms a subspecialization-oriented endpoint for nearly all graduates.